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Blog Assignment # 1 — Fenn

1. Author Elizabeth Fenn discusses the spread of the smallpox disease at Fort Pitt in 1773.  People have always had their opinions on how the epidemic started in the first place.  Fenn uses information gathered to explore if the Indians were infected naturally through the spread of disease, or if in fact the spread of smallpox can be linked to the British military.  The military did have incentive to spread the disease to wipe out the Indians.

2.  Fenn uses historical documents along with personal journals from people there to gather information about the spread of smallpox and the involvement of the British military.  Fenn uses a land speculators journal to explore the first written account of the British planing the spread of the disease.  William Trent wrote while attending a meeting between the British and the Indians, the British obliged to give the Indians some retributions before leaving.  They were given “Two blankets and a handkerchief,”(Fenn 1).  These linens were taken from the smallpox hospital so there was a high probability of them containing the disease. Along with Trent’s first hand accounts, Fenn also uses books and records from Fort Pitt to explore the case further.

3.  Fenn explores both possibilities of the spread of smallpox.  She shows that there is a strong relationship between the British military officials and the spread of smallpox to the Indians.  The  journal  of Trent shows that the British had motives and the means to wage biological warfare on the Indian tribes in 1773.  Clearly Fenn feels the British had the intent and also carried out the spread of smallpox to the Indians.  This inevitably led to the death of a large percentage of the Indian population in the area.

4. I think Fenn proved her argument especially do to the lack of historical evidence of the events.  Fenn showed that not only did the British military have the means to wage biological warfare, but they had the incentive to as well.  The British depended on the Indians having smallpox because “Indian participation in the conflict with the British waxed and waned according to their simultaneous struggle against smallpox,” (Fenn 27).  Jeffery Amherst made the British look guilty by saying “Total war against Native Americans was warranted,” (Fenn 47).

5. I feel finding or researching the answer to what happened at Fort Pitt in regards to the British and the Indians is very important.  Biological warfare was prevalent in the 1700′s and is still a threat today.  If we know how others have used this technique in the past, it could possibly help us prevent it in the future.  Along with that, it is important to make light of what actually happened in the past so others can learn from the rights and wrongs of those before us.

Blog Assignment #2 — Breen

1) In the Breen article, the relationship between Great Britain and the American Colonies.  The relationship between the two was heavily based upon trade, but favored the British.  Colonial citizens began to realize the negative affects of being tied to and trade with Britain.   Separate economic and political views differed among the British, causing colonist to long for their own separate identity.  American colonies were dedicated to the idea of separate country from Britain at any cost including war.

2) Breen’s article addresses the issue of taxation on the American colonist from Britain.  The British viewed the American colonies to have a robust and booming economy.  The soldiers in the Seven Year’s War and the military expenditures fueled these views.  Dickenson wrote that, “Having a number of strangers among us, we were too generous and hospitable for their own good.” (Breen, 473)  What he meant was that the war generated a false sense of profit and led to the downturn of the economy.

3) Newspaper articles, books, and journals were all used for historical references by  Breen.  Breen used information from the Boston Evening-Post in 1774 claiming, “ Commerce is the most solid foundation of civil society.” (Breen, 481) Along with the Boston Evening Post, Breen pulled from other newspapers such as the Boston Gazette and New York Gazette.

4) Breen’s article addresses the construction of this “sense of national community” from a different perspective.  Breen believed the colonist found a sense of community when boycotts against Britain brought them together.  The boycotts against Britain signified their determination to be a free country at any cost.

5) Breen relied on several resources that backed his argument very strongly.  The newspaper articles gave clear and timely references to events taking place regarding the colonies pursuit of freedom.  Breen claims, “If Americans supported the boycott, then no one could predict what might happen. British merchants might suffer large losses; British workers might find themselves out of work.” (Breen, 487)  This shows that the colonist are willing to fight for their independence of trade from Britain.

Blog 3

1. The historical question Blondheim explores in “Public Sentiment is Everything”: The Union’s Public Communications Strategy and the Bogus Proclamation of 1864, was how public relations and communication could increase the chances of victory. Abraham Lincoln stated, “Public sentiment is every thing,” “with it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed”(869). Lincoln knew if he controlled the publics support, it would make the war much more difficult for the opposition. Lincoln needed to find a way to take a politically divided nation and tie them together in order to win the Civil War. Weapons and military actions had little relevance in the Civil War if Lincoln could not find a way to create a positive attitude among American citizens.

2. One of Blondeim’s main points was whoever controlled public sentiment had greater control of public support, over those who enforced judicial decisions or asserted status over the public. This point is easily validated because individuals will respond better and support decisions that include and benefit the public. If a decision is decided for them or they have no say, typically the people will be against it. Lincoln used this to his advantage in gaining public leverage over the South in the Civil War. Along with public sentiment, Blondheim disused the importance of the First Amendment, and its free expression of speech and ideas. Lincoln and other influential wartime leaders relied on the press to reach the public. Lincoln needed to find a way to reach the public, convey a positive message, all while not breaking the First Amendment by changing the facts to favor his views. The use of newspapers allowed for masses of American citizens to read what was happening on a regular basis. “Public information was thereby put before the people more fully, more rapidly, and more transparently, while the process of communicating it became more mediated and decentralized” (874) Along with written press, Lincoln relied on telegraph companies and, “Through its control of the telegraph and NYAP, the administration could dominate the flow and content of telegraphic press dispatches. By 1861 the telegraph industry was well into what its leading historian has called its “era of consolidation”(877). Blondheim felt that control over media outlets and public sentiment would clearly be the key to having control over the upcoming Civil War.

3. To support his arguments, Blondheim used several references. First, Blondheim explained how the government had a close alliance with the telegraph company NYAP through a reporter named Sam Wilkeson from the Tribune. Wilkeson, referring to Washington’s agent Lawrence Gobright, had become “Almost as much the agent of the government as the agent of the newspapers” (879). This source was showing how much influence Lincoln and his administration had over news outlets during the Civil War. Another source Blondheim pulls information from is the original letter written by Abraham Lincoln. This letter was written on May 17, 1864 a day before the release and publication of the bogus proclamation of New York.

4. I feel the Blondheim article supports the issues of communication and economic conditions of the United States during the Civil War era. In Out of Many, it is stressed that Lincoln utilized the communication networks to advance public sentiment towards the war. As stated earlier, Lincoln claimed, “Public sentiment is every thing,” “with it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed”(869). Lincoln and his administration composed ways to inform the public through newspapers and telegraphs, all the while relaying the message they wanted them to hear. Censorship was used in the media, even though it was seen to be against the First Amendment.

5. I found the Blondheim article to be well argued and persuasive, but I felt there was a lack of references. The control of media outlets and the positive effect of public sentiment was a large issue during the Civil War era, but he really only uses two or three references at most. I do feel he does a good job showing how Lincoln and administration saw the importance of communication and public relations. Even with the lack of references, I felt this article furthered my understanding of the Civil War. Blondheim wrote, “The governments ill-considered and harsh response to the publication of the bogus proclamation appeared to supply fodder to the opposition on both accounts” (889). This quote shows how easily the media could turn the public against everything you worked for. In conclusion I felt the Blonheim article furthered my understanding of the Civil War, as well as showing how important media was during the Civil War.